Endless running games is a genre that we've seen a lot lately for the iOS and with so many runners running rampant on the App Store, it can be somewhat hard to find some games that stick out. With that said, how does Rogue Runner run... er, stand?

Gameplay

In Rogue Runner by Glowdot Productions you play as rogue Agent #022201-22C, who is tired of obeying orders and is bustin' out. Well, with that designation wouldn't you? As soon as you start a new game you are given two vehicle choices, a tank and a jeep, which appear to have the same stats, but the text next to each vehicle was so small you can?t it unless you bring out the magnifying glass from the science lab. Controlling your chosen vehicle is as simple as tapping one side of the screen to jump and the opposite side to shoot. And of course, what would be the use of shooting if there were no enemies to show off your brilliant tap-to-shoot skills, right? Right. And boy, are there a lot of those. In Rogue Runner, you'll be shooting up aliens, agents, and even something a bit unique in the run 'n' gun genre: flying aircraft. Tapping said aircraft will shoot forth a homing missile to annihilate your enemy.

The game starts with three hearts, and you lose one each time you get damaged by an enemy, but unlike other running titles such as Monster Dash, when you fall off a cliff, it isn't Game Over. You just lose a heart and your vehicle gets parachuted down again. That?s a great thing as it prolongs the gameplay and helps you focus on shooting more. Hearts and power-ups are sometimes placed in your path, power-ups include spread shots, etc. Once all three hearts are gone, Agent #022201-22C hops out of his destroyed vehicle and you are given one last chance before you die. All of this makes for a rather nice pick-up-and-play game, and while not much is new, Rogue Runner does have it's own unique bits and pieces.

Graphics

The graphics for Rogue Runner are excellently done in retro-ish pixel art. It's great how the developers took time to give every small bit of detail its own well deserved attention, though the background gets repetitive and bland after a while, as the game only has one level and one desert background and doesn't change. If you are looking for the busy and colorful background scenes from Metal Slug series, you won?t find it here.

Sound

Sound is well done but is somewhat lacking, while it has explosions, gunshots, tires squealing and sirens blaring, there is no in-game music track to enhance the action, which is somewhat of a let down. iPod music is supported, however, and somewhat makes up for the lack of in-game music.

Conclusion

While there are quite a few good runner games out there and there's a wider selection to choose from, Rogue Runner is still a very fun addition to the genre, and while the background needs more variety and the game need some in-game tunes, the developer promises to update it every so often. Rogue Runner is a great runner and is a must try experience for fans of the genre.

Ratings (scale of 1 to 5):

Graphics: - 4 - Great retro pixel art! Only one landscape and one background.Sound: - 3.5 - Good sound effects, but no in-game soundtrack. Option for iPod music.Controls: - 5 - Simple yet efficient control system works very well. Gameplay: - 4.5 - The gameplay follows the genre but adds its own unique aspects.

Playing Hints and Tips:

Always stay focused on the screen, with so much happening it's always good to keep looking at what's going on.